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"Only when you learn to love everyone equally will true
freedom emerge.
Until
then, you are bound. You are the slave of the ego and the mind."
- Amma |
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Experience
with Amma.
Satsang by Lakshmi during
Mother's 1999 November visit in San Ramon- Excerpted
from Immortal Bliss magazine |
 "I
witnessed that the power of love between them had been
able to transgress the natural laws of the tide, and
I understood that so-called insentient beings like the
ocean experience the same attraction toward Mother as
we humans do." Read
More
If you are interested
in subscribing to the Immortal Bliss magazine, now is
the time. We are having a special
offer available for this month.
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Retreat
with Amma - Online registration available!
Amma's
U.S. and Canada Summer Tour - 2004
Amma's Summer tour
dates are posted
here.
A Retreat with Amma offers many special opportunities
to spend time with and experience closeness to Amma.
Closeness to Amma is a state of being open to what
She has to offer...Her infinite love and guidance.
Blessed are those who benefit from it and lead happier
and richer lives. In addition to the usual retreat
agenda comprising of Meditation with Amma, Question
and Answer session with Amma, bhajans, satsang and
Amma personally giving food to Her children, the 2004
retreats will also include free summary IAM meditation
courses. These courses have been offered in different
parts of the country for the past few months. Due
to the increasing demand and less space availability
this course will now be offered in the retreats at
no extra cost. This is indeed an unique opportunity
to accentuate our spiritual growth in our otherwise
busy lives. We now have Online
registration for Amma's 2004 Tour Retreats.
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Events
in the Amma Centers nationwide.
You
may visit the following satsang home pages to check
out their latest events and activities.
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Spring
festival- San Ramon ashram, California
Celebrate Spring
- the season of cheer and laughter, with your family
and friends. Admission is free for all! For more details.
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Amma's
Books and Gifts - Special offer
Visit
our bookstore and take advantage of the special
offer that we are having now on books and Cds.
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Gems
to treasure
For our children
Excerpts from Amma's
message on bringing up children.
Don't use force:
Teenagers are like people who are just learning to
drive. People who are just learning to drive will
be repeatedly warned to be careful, but due to their
enthusiasm, without listening to others' advice, they
will drive fast and recklessly. Therefore parents
should not use force to instill obedience in them.
When we try to force our ideas upon our children it
will only help to create revenge and hatred in their
minds. Instead we should try to help the children.
Help means patience, and a loving approach. That is
what help really means.
Moreover, children should be taught about spirituality
and right actions at the right time, at a young age.
One can very easily make a pathway in soft, tender
grass even by just walking in it a few times. But
one will rarely succeed in making a pathway in the
rocky soil of a mountain. In the same way, spiritual
teachings and moral values should be instilled during
the early years of life while the youngsters are still
impressionable and receptive.
Transform life into an open-hearted burst of laughter.
That is religion, that is spirituality, and that itself
is real prayer. The more we open our hearts and smile
and laugh, the nearer and nearer we get to God. God
is the innocent smile that bursts forth from inside.
That is the greatest gift to give someone.
Briefly excerpted
from " The Immortal Bliss magazine."
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Humanitarian
Activities
This
section highlights one of Amma's innumerable Humanitarian
activities.
Community
Projects
Every life is
touched directly or indirectly by Amma's loving hands.
It is still a wonder to see the effect of Amma's love
unfold in different ways like a variety of flowers in
a garden. In the United states, Amma has inspired a
number of community
projects of which making scarves and afghans for
the battered and the homeless is one.
The following is a brief report of a person who was
inspired by Amma's love.
My Crocheting Angel: When I first heard that
a crochet/knitting group was being formed I thought
it was a wonderful idea, but with my busy schedule,
it was not something I had the time or energy to do
right now. A few weeks later I went to deliver a Valentine/Birthday
gift to my next door neighbor, Valentine, who was turning
79 years old.
She took the gift and asked me in. She placed the gift
on the table and thanked me for remembering her on her
birthday. As she looked at the gift she began to cry.
I took her in my arms and stroked her hair as the tears
flowed. She was like a little girl lonely and afraid.
My heart felt very sad. My mind quickly searched for
ways to help her. I remembered someone had once shared
with me that Valentine knew how to crochet. I told Valentine
that our meditation group had just started making afghans
for homeless women. She told me that she knew how to
crochet and that because of her diabetes she could no
longer crochet. I asked her if she would be willing
to teach me. Her face quickly lit up.
Two days later I was at Valentine's door with my crochet
hook and my yarn. Not only did she teach me, but Valentine,
the one who did not have time or energy to crochet,
has been crocheting ever since. For every square that
I complete, Valentine completes 4 or 5. We now have
enough squares to put our first afghan together! I believe
that it was Amma's grace that has brought us together
and She has given us both a real sense of purpose. We
are both able to give to each other and to our larger
community.
I now visit Valentine 3-4 times a week. When I call
her to let her know I am coming over I can feel the
joy and love in her voice as she says, "OK, come on
over, I will leave the front door open for you." -
Maheswari
For
details on the crocheting project
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| This is the April 2004
edition of Amrita eNews, a monthly newsletter. |
Om
Om Peace Peace Peace |
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